I have made a dozen hats and solicited a dozen more for the local elementary school Christmas boxes.Should I wash all of the hats or give them as made. I am leaning toward wash & dry because it would even out all the hats?I do not have much extra time; so asking here. What is the right or best way?I never wash hats for Grandchildren as they take them right off the needles to their heads. Ha, HaPlease let me know what to do???

I wash everything before it is given away. Not that it is dirty, but it softens the yarn, evens out some of the stitches but won't correct errors unfortunately, and it always looks so much nicer after the first wash.

I wash all before I give away. There are oils, skin cells, etc from my hands that are transferred to the yarn and needles as I work.Not to mention the times that the yarn falls on the floor and rolls away

I cannot imagine that anything given away to charity, or as a gift should not be washed first. To the extreme, my mother washed, ironed, and hung on hangers any shirt, blouse, etc. that was going into a garage sale! I wash and carefully fold any items that are given to charity and would wash and block hats, etc. also. Charities like Salvation Army, churches, thrift shops and hospitals cannot be expected to provide cleaning services.

The woman in our area who coordinates distribution of charity hats, scarves, etc. said that she was told anything going to hospitals is washed at the hospitals, so we don't need to wash them. Stuff going to shelters and soup kitchens are also dealt with, either washed or not, by the groups distributing them to clients.

I don't think any of us donates anything that was used, dirty, or anything nasty like that. I imagine we all keep our work clean enough to put on when it comes off the needles.

Pearls Girls wrote:

I have made a dozen hats and solicited a dozen more for the local elementary school Christmas boxes.Should I wash all of the hats or give them as made. I am leaning toward wash & dry because it would even out all the hats?I do not have much extra time; so asking here. What is the right or best way?I never wash hats for Grandchildren as they take them right off the needles to their heads. Ha, HaPlease let me know what to do???

I always wash and dry charity items. I have allergies, and if someone gave me a knitted gift and they smoke, have cats or dogs, use an air freshener/scented candles, or scented hand lotion or perfume - and did not wash the items, I would have an allergic reaction to it.

I even wash every item of washable clothing that I buy before wearing it. The clothing picks up the odors from the store, perfume and makeup from someone who tried on the garment, and from the warehouse, delivery centers, and even the delivery trucks.